"All right."
Qian Xunji answered, then swallowed all ten pills in the jade bottle.
Feeling a surge of power inside him, Qian Xunji guided it all into his fourth Soul Ring rather than choosing to turn a hundred-year Soul Ring into a Thousand-Year Soul Ring first.
They watched the Pope swallow the pills, then release his Soul Rings.
Yue Guan watched in bewilderment, wondering what His Holiness was doing. Then both he and Gui Mei widened their eyes.
"Th-this... His Holiness's fourth Soul Ring turned from a Thousand-Year Soul Ring into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."
Both spoke with trembling voices.
After so many years in Spirit Hall, they only knew that the divine trials recorded in ancient texts could accomplish such a thing-but those involved gods!
The pills His Holiness had just swallowed seemed to have come from the Great Enshrined. At that thought, Yue Guan seemed to understand why the Great Enshrined had summoned him.
But he had never even heard of pills that increased a Soul Ring's age.
He would probably have to disappoint the Great Enshrined.
"Elder Yue Guan, this is why I summoned you today. This is the Pill Formula for those pills. You've seen their effects for yourself."
Qian Daoliu took out the parchment and spoke calmly.
Just as I thought. Yue Guan stepped forward and said,
"Great Enshrined, I'm afraid I cannot refine such a divine treasure. Even with a Pill Formula, I might..."
"Wait, Great Enshrined, did you say you have the Pill Formula?"
Yue Guan had already prepared his excuses before the words finally sank in.
"Take a look. This is your specialty."
Yue Guan carefully accepted the parchment from Qian Daoliu.
Thousand-Year Soul Ring Age Pill?
So that was the pill's name. Yue Guan continued reading.
Effects: increases a Soul Ring's age by one thousand years. Only effective on Soul Rings below ten thousand years old.
That effect was a little terrifying.
Yue Guan frowned slightly as he examined the medicinal ingredients listed on it. He recognized every one.
He had assumed that a "divine treasure" capable of turning a Thousand-Year Soul Ring into a ten-thousand-year one might require ingredients he had never even heard of.
But after reading the Pill Formula, he found that nearly all the ingredients could be obtained. Some could also be found if the price was right.
"Great Enshrined, I recognize every ingredient listed here. Almost all of them can be found on the continent. A few may be expensive, or held in private collections."
Yue Guan did not dare make any absolute promises. He had to leave himself some room.
"You will be responsible for this, with Ghost Elder assisting you. Keep it secret. Don't worry about funding. Report any ingredients you cannot find."
"I will think of a way. Here are some pills. Raise your own Soul Rings' ages first as well."
Qian Daoliu looked at Yue Guan, thought for a moment, then took out two bottles for them.
Qian Daoliu would never question Yue Guan and Gui Mei's loyalty. In the original plot, they had been pitiable men too...
Looking at the jade bottles before them, Yue Guan and Gui Mei did not refuse. After all, researching the pills required samples.
"Thank you, Great Enshrined."
Both cupped their hands and bowed to him.
Qian Daoliu waved a hand at the two.
"All right. You've done so much for Spirit Hall. You deserve this. Everything has been explained, so we'll head back now."
"Um, eldest brother, didn't we agree that we'd go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan after I replaced the floor tiles?"
Jiang Mo's voice rang out from the hall entrance. He was still holding a floor tile and the tools needed for the job.
Qian Daoliu looked at Jiang Mo, his face darkening with exasperation. Jiang Mo truly was determined.
To think Spirit Hall's dignified Seventh Enshrined had ended up looking like this.
"The trip north can wait. I've gained some insights recently. Let me finish my cultivation first."
With that, Qian Daoliu walked toward the exit, pausing beside Jiang Mo.
"Remember to replace the floor tiles."
Then Qian Daoliu left the Pope's Hall.
"Keep up the good work."
Golden Crocodile patted Jiang Mo's shoulder, then left the Pope's Hall too.
"Second brother is right. Keep up the good work."
Guang Ling also patted Jiang Mo.
Azure Luan, Lion, and Qian Jun each told Jiang Mo to "keep up the good work" before leaving.
The Worship Hall
Qian Daoliu sat cross-legged before the Angel God Statue.
His consciousness entered his spiritual world.
He took out the Nine-Yang Divine Skill again. He had not been deceiving Jiang Mo; he intended to master the skill first.
After all, the Nine-Yang Divine Skill was also a sacred manual of healing. Once he mastered it, he would be able to recover from his injuries more effectively.
He had skimmed through it earlier. Now, he would begin cultivating according to its instructions.
Sink qi into the dantian, let the spirit roam the boundless void;
As the nine suns first emerge, the meridians open of their own accord;
Cycle through the heavens, endlessly renewing;
Once the mystic gate breaks open, heaven and earth take shape...
A wisp of purple aura curled around Qian Daoliu's body, bringing a wondrous sensation.
This should be the violet mist.
Qian Daoliu began circulating his Soul Power according to the method.
One cycle,
Two cycles,
Seventy-two cycles,
As Qian Daoliu continued circulating his power, the violet mist around him grew thicker.
And nine orbs of light appeared around him from time to time...
Outside the Worship Hall
Golden Crocodile and the others had waited for Jiang Mo to complete the monumental task of laying the floor tiles before making their leisurely way back.
"Second brother, do you think eldest brother was lying to me?"
Jiang Mo followed his older brothers, speaking somewhat dejectedly.
"Seventh brother, keep your voice down."
Huh? Why is third brother transmitting his voice through Soul Power?
Azure Luan used a Soul Power voice transmission to warn Jiang Mo.
"Little brother, eldest brother wasn't lying to you."
Qian Jun first used Soul Power to block out sound, creating a little enclosure for the six of them, but still spoke quietly. Then he nudged Jiang Mo.
Jiang Mo looked up and saw Qian Daoliu cultivating.
Intense fluctuations of Soul Power surrounded Qian Daoliu.
At the sight, Jiang Mo thought, Eldest brother really wasn't lying to me. He really is cultivating.
And I was doubting eldest brother just now.
Then Jiang Mo walked beneath the plaque bearing the words "Worship Hall" and sat down.
"Little brother, what are you doing?"
Qian Jun looked at his brother, unable to understand.
"Brother, I'm guarding eldest brother while he cultivates."
As Jiang Mo spoke, he carefully summoned his Martial Soul.
"..."
If someone needed a guard even in the Worship Hall, there was probably nowhere safe left on the Douluo Continent.
The Enshrined exchanged smiles and shook their heads, then sat down beside Jiang Mo.
Azure Luan took out a tea set and brewed tea for his brothers.
Ten days later,
Their chat now consisted of four people. Guang Ling and Jiang Mo had wandered off somewhere.
"Eldest brother's 'little suns' give me a sense of endless renewal."
Azure Luan spoke as he studied the unusual manifestations Qian Daoliu had produced through his cultivation over the past few days.
Over those days, powerful Soul Power fluctuations had surrounded Qian Daoliu, and then things resembling "little suns" had begun appearing around him.
"Yes, these 'nine suns' feel like... masculine vigor, with his blood vitality growing stronger and stronger. Second brother, you feel it too, don't you?"
Lion nudged Golden Crocodile as he spoke.
Lion's Martial Soul was the Blazing Lion, while Golden Crocodile's was the Golden Crocodile King. Both were beast Martial Souls, giving them keen perception in this regard.
"It seems that if eldest brother hadn't been injured, he might never have cultivated like this."
Qian Jun had found a stalk of foxtail grass somewhere and held it between his lips.
"Over the past few days, eldest brother's blood vitality has grown stronger and stronger. He'll probably wake soon."
Golden Crocodile sensed the changes carefully.
"Look at the 'little suns' around eldest brother."
They watched as the nine little suns around Qian Daoliu suddenly rose.
Within his spiritual world,
Qian Daoliu had no idea how many cycles he had completed. He only felt that he no longer needed to keep them circulating consciously.
It seems it's time to wake up.
"The nine suns first emerge, endlessly renewing!"
Before you continue